Holder for autocollimators



Nov.-7, 1933. A, GARBARIN HOLDER FOR A UTOCOLLIAMATORS Filed Jan. 10,1951

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.Patented Nov.A 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc HOLDER Fon AU'rocoLLIMA'roRs Ohio Application January 10,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for mounting an autocollimator having an objective lens and a reflecting surface such as fully described in my' copending application Serial No. 134,204, filed September 8, 1926 used in forming signs which reflect rays of light so that at night they become visible whenever a beam of light is directed thereon. Such signs are now in more orless common use for night advertising, road marking, signaling, and are particularly adaptable for reflecting the beams from headlights of automobiles so that the desired information is immediately communicated to the driver.

This invention relates particularly to holders for mounting such autocollimators having a conical or strawberry shape. The primary object of this invention is to provide a device whereby these autocollimating lenses may be uniformly and rapidly mounted on any desired surface and may be changed at any time with the minimum of effort. I also provide a means for mounting such a lens, whereby a predetermined portion of the lens is exposed so that the greatest efficiency is attained. I also provide such a mounting which holds the lens securely in the correct position and also the fastening means against rotation. I also provide a means for mounting such lens, whereby it is not easily removable by the casual passerby.

Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of apparatus embodying the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sign composed of a plurality of such mountings.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of one of these mountings showing an approved form of fastening means.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View.

Figs. 4l and 5 are cross-sections with two forms of means for attaching the mounting to a panel.

Fig. 6 shows the constituent elements in relative position for assembling.

Fig. 7 illustrates an alternate type of nut for fastening the mounting to a panel.

Fig. 8 shows a type of bolt used in fastening an alternate embodiment of my invention to a panel.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout, 1 is the shell of the mounting, 2 is the autocollimator, 3 indicates felt padding, 4 is 1931. Serial No. 507,893

a metal disk, 5 is a cup-shaped member and 6 is a bolt having a non-circu1ar head for fasten ing the entire unit to a panel. In Fig. 7,. 7 is a cylindrical nut with recesses 7a for receiving the pins of the Spanner wrench. In Fig. 8, 24 is a bolt having a cylindrical head' with recesses 2lia to receive the pins of a Spanner wrench.

Describing more particularly the various eley ments of this device, the shell 1 is constructed of a thin, strong metal of the shape shown, having a round opening 8, through which the objective lens 9 of the autocollimator 2 protrudes. The opening 8 is of such a predetermined size as will allow the button to project to such an extent as will produce the greatest eiiiciency in reecting beams of light. The pad 3 is of circular shape, and fits against the rear face 10 of the button 2, forming a protection to the buttonas well as a pad for absorbing the pressure when the cup member 5 is forced into place. The rear face 10 is silvered as at 10a so as to form a reflecting surface. The member 5 has outwardly turned edges 5a and a concave inner surface 11 with a hole 12 for the bolt 6. Surrounding the hole 12 is a non-circular indentation 13 adapted to receive the non-circular head portion lll of the bolt 6. Formed from the member 5 and projecting inwardly or towards the mounting panel 20 are spring tabs 25. The member 5g4 shownin Fig. 5 is of the same construction as the member 5 in Fig. .4 excepting only that the hole 12 is threaded at 26 to receive the bolt 2li. The disk 4; has aconcave inner and outer surface 15 of sirnilar contour to the surface 11 of the cap 5, said surface 15 being surrounded by the flat surface 16. I

In assembling this mounting the autocollimator 2 is inserted in the shell 1 with the objective lens 9 projecting through the opening 8, as shown in Figs. fi and 5. The pad 3 is then placed next to the rear face 10 of the button 2. The disk 4 is then put in position adjacent the center of the padding 3, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The bolt 6 is'then inserted in the hole 12 so that the new rounded portion 1li rests within the non-round indentation 13. The cup-shaped member 5 is then forced within the rear portion 17 of the shell 1 until the edge 5a is ush-with the rear edge 17 of the shell. V/'hen this assembly is completed, the edges 53 of the member 5 and portion 17 of the shell are crimped together, as shown' at 18, Fig. 3.

The autocollimator is now held securely in position and the unit may be mounted, together with a plurality of other similar ones, to form any desired words, letters or numbers, such as the numeral 7, as shown in Fig. 1. The bolt 6 is held in position by the disk 4, which presses against its head and it is prevented from turning, by the non-circular portion 13, in which the non-circular head 14 rests. The bolt 6 is then inserted in a hole located in the desired position on the mounting panel and the washer 19 and the nut 19a are applied to the bolt and the nut tightened. When all such devices have been so mounted on the panel 20 to form the desired sign, the rear of the panel is completely covered by a backing 21 of any desired material, which is fastened by a plurality of screws 22 to a rearwardly projecting portion 23, which extends all around the edge of the panel 20. The tabs 25 are contracted as the assembled mounting is drawn against the panel by the tightening of the nut and the ends 25e tend to bite into the panel. Thus when so mounted the assembled device cannot be removed from the front of the panel due to the fact that the tabs 25 will resist attempts to unscrew it, the ends 25EL biting into the panel whenever counter clockwise rotation is tried.

Thus it will be readily seen, the button elements are more greatly protected against petty thieves and souvenir hunters for although they could be obtained by removing the plurality of the screws 22 and then the nuts 19, the trouble would be too great for the individual who would not hesitate to unscrew a mounting lens securely fastened.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional View of a mounting similar in all respects to the one just described excepting only that it is fastened to the panel by means of the nut 7, Fig. '7. Inasmuch as the nut l requires a special tool or spanner wrench to remove it the backing 21 shown in Fig. 2 may be omitted for the mounting is sufficiently protected against removal from the rear due to this feature the tabs preventing removal from the front as above described.

In Fig. 5 the bolt 24 is inserted through the panel towards the mounting and is tightened by means of a Spanner wrench into the threads 26 of the member 5, thus drawing the mounting against the panel and holding it securely in position. In this manner also the device is protected against removal by petty thieves `from both the front and rear of the mounting panel.

I claim:

1. A holder for autocollimators comprising a shell open at both ends housing the collimator and exposing same through one of its ends shaped to fit tightly about the lens of said autocollimator, a cup engaged within the other end of said shell with its bottom turned inwardly, an opening in the center of said cup, a non-circular indentation surrounding said opening, a nonoircular headed bolt `adapted to project through said opening the non-annular head fitting within the indentation, a metal disk fitting against said cup and holding the bolt in position, a filling member inserted between said autocollimator and the bottom of said cup, and means adapted to nt said bolt forfsecuring the holder againstA a panel.

2. A holder for autocollimators comprising a shell open at both ends housing the collimator and exposing same through one of its ends shaped to nt tightly about the lens of said autocollimator, a cup engaged within the other end of said shell with its bottom turned inwardly, an opening in the center of said cup, a. non-circular indentation surrounding said opening, a non-circular headed bolt adapted to project through said opening the non-circular head fitting within the indentation, a metal disk fitting against said cup and holding the bolt in position, a filling member inserted between said autocollimator and the bottom of said cup and means adapted to fit said bolt for securing the holder against a panel, there being tab portions projecting from the bottom of said cup and positioned to engage the supporting panel so as to resist counter clockwise rotation of said holder.

3. A holder for autocollimators comprising a shell open at both ends housing the collimator and exposing same through one of its ends, a closure member engaging the other end of said shell, a threaded opening in the center of said closure member and a bolt adapted to extend from a supporting panel and be threaded into said opening for securing said holder in position, there being tab portions projecting from the bottom of said closure member and positioned to engage the panel so as to resist counter clockwise rotation of said holder.

4. A holderfor autocollimators comprising a shell open at both ends housing the collimator and exposing same through one of its ends, a closure member engaging the other end of said shell, a bolt projecting from said closure member and having a threaded outer end portion and a cylindrical nut adapted to be threaded on said bolt and tightened by a spanner wrench for securing said holder in position, there beingy tab portions projecting from the bottom of said closure member and positioned to engage the panel so as to resist counter clockwise rotation of said holder.

5. A holder for autocollimating devices including a reflector and an objective lens, said holder comprising a stamped shell housing said reflector one end being shaped to fit snugly about the objective lens and expose same, a stamped cup member adapted to be forced within and engaged to the outer end of said shell with its bottom turned inwards to cause a pressure against the autocollimator to hold it in position the objective lens exposed and in snug fit with said shaped end, and a filling member inserted between the bottom of said cup member and said reflector to absorb part of said pressure.

6. A holder for autocollimators having an objective lens and a reflector comprising a shell open at both ends housing the collimator and exposing the objective through one of its ends, a closure member crimped within the other end of said shell and causing a pressure against the autocollimator toward the other end of said shell and in tight contact therewith to hold it tightly in position, a panel, means extending through said closure member and said panel for mounting said holder on said panel, and a backing on said panel for enclosing said mounting means.

7. A holder for autocollimators having an objective lens and a reflector comprising a shell open at both ends housing the collimator and exposing the objective lens through one of its ends, an inverted cup member fitting within and engaged by its sides to the other end of said shell and causing a pressure against the reflector to hold said autocollimator in tight fit with said other end, a filling member between the bottom of said cup member and said reflector adapted to protect the rear surface of the autocollimator and absorb the excess pressure between the cup and the rear surface, a panel, means extending through the bottom of said cup member and through said panel for mounting said holder on said panel, and a backing on said panel for enclosing said mounting means.

8. A holder for autocollimators to be mounted on a panel comprising a shell open at both ends, housing the autocollimator and exposing same through one of its ends shaped to iit tightly about the lens of said autocollimator, a cup engaged within the other end of said shell, with its bottom turned inwards adapted to hold the autocollimator in position, a filling member inserted between said autocollimator and the bottom of said cup, tab portions struck rearwardly from the bottom of the cup adapted to engage with a panel and means attached to said cup for securing the holder to a panel.

9. A holder for an autooollimator including a -refiector and an objective lens, said holder ccmprising a shell housing said reflector and open at its ends from oneof which projects said objective lens, said shell fitting tightly about said A objective lens, a cup closure member fitting within the other end o! said shell, with its'bottom turned inwards and secured to the shell by its sides, means attached to said cup for mounting the holder in position on a panel, and rearwardly extending tabs formed from the bottom of the cup for engaging with the panel as the holder is mounted.

10. A holder for an autocollimator including a reflector and an objective lens, said holder comprising a shell housing said reflector and 'open at its ends from one of which projects said objective lens, said shell iltting tightly about said in the other end of said shell adapted to hold the autocollimator in position, with its bottom turned inwards and secured to the shell by its ANDR GARBARINI.

objective lens, a cup closure member fitting with-` 

